Xtinction Agenda

Neil Gaiman - The Sandman: The Doll's House

September 01, 2022 12:03 - 1 hour - 44.4 MB

This week, Chris, James, and James march merrily along into a murderous multitude of serial killers and mask our faces with our mitts as the machinations of Desire unfold! That's right! We're back at it with Neil's Gaiman's The Sandman. Pierce the veil of haunted sleep with us. Dream a little dream. "Like every true citadel since time began, the Threshold is inhabited."

Neil Gaiman - The Sandman #9-16

September 01, 2022 12:03 - 1 hour - 44.4 MB

This week, Chris, James, and James march merrily along into a murderous multitude of serial killers and mask our faces with our mitts as the machinations of Desire unfold! That's right! We're back at it with Neil's Gaiman's The Sandman. Pierce the veil of haunted sleep with us. Dream a little dream. "Like every true citadel since time began, the Threshold is inhabited."

Warren Ellis - Aetheric Mechanics

August 25, 2022 14:54 - 35 minutes - 12.4 MB

James and James cap off this year's Avatar August with a return to the man from the Thames Delta himself: Warren Ellis. Steampunk Sherlock Holmes? Check. Cast off ideas from Planetary? Check. Half-baked ideas drawn from popular science websites? Check. It's a perfect storm. Get your galoshes and brew your tea. "But once you've heard the song of a spaceship, you'd never be anything but a royal naval outer serviceman."

Alan Moore - Crossed +100 #1-6

August 21, 2022 15:40 - 52 minutes - 23 MB

Chris, James, and James continue with Avatar August. In 2014 and 2015, Alan Moore (you may have heard of him) took some time out of his busy Northampton schedule to dig deep into his ongoing concerns about global ecological and civilizational collapse. The result was Crossed +100 #1-6. We decode the lingo, unlock the keys of meaning, and otherwise pull this thing apart, showing our esteemed colleagues (aka YOU) how it all works. "Huh. Movie."

Garth Ennis - Caliban

August 18, 2022 10:00 - 44 minutes - 19.5 MB

Chris, James, and James kick off this year's Avatar August with yet another look into the mind of Garth Ennis. Ever seen Alien? Event Horizon? Ever find yourself worried about Body Snatchers? How about all three? Drop out of warp, quick! We've encountered something: Caliban. "...the implications are enormous. And simultaneously, meaningless unless we survive."

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Body Count

August 11, 2022 00:52 - 59 minutes - 37.7 MB

James and James take stock of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles as a franchise, talking very briefly about Sophie Campbell's recent teen-friendly work on the series and then looking in-depth at some classics of the past. Most of all, however, they satisfy their lust for the old ultraviolence reading Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Body Count. Kevin Eastman and Simon Bisley, there are no sweeter names in the English lexicon. "I hate guns."

Moto Hagio - The Poe Clan Vol. 1

August 04, 2022 00:17 - 1 hour - 53.7 MB

Chris and James discover the raw power of what it means to be a boy in love with another boy. And also what it means to be a Japanese girl. Sorta. We also learn how to suck blood through our finger tips...? And sometimes we forget to reflect light off of our pale, immortal, puerile bodies. Never ever, however, do we fail to reflect at length on the first volume of Fantagraphics' collected edition of The Poe Clan. "Well Matthias? Do you like your roses more than me?"

Jason Aaron - Thor: God of Thunder #1-12

July 28, 2022 10:00 - 1 hour - 29.2 MB

Only those who are worthy may imbibe our mighty discourse! If yee be so worthy, mayhaps yee may find thy person in the buxom company of fine maidens such as James and James may be. Pour your mead! Man your steed! And prepare thyself for cosmic battle most fierce! Jason Aaron and Esad Ribic kill it in Thor: God of Thunder #1-12 (2013) "life will still find a way."

Neil Gaiman - The Sandman Vol. 2 #1-8

July 20, 2022 00:17 - 1 hour - 39.4 MB

Chris, James, and James finally press the button. They finally take the plunge. They finally begin that long, dark journey into night. Tonight we finally get down to talking about the Dream Weaver himself, the Sandman. We are going to eat the entire thing. Watch us gorge on the first collected edition, Preludes and Nocturnes. Can we hold it down? Find out! “She’s realized the real problem with stories -- if you keep them going long enough, they always end in death.”

Neil Gaiman - The Sandman: Preludes and Nocturnes

July 20, 2022 00:17 - 1 hour - 39.4 MB

Chris, James, and James finally press the button. They finally take the plunge. They finally begin that long, dark journey into night. Tonight we finally get down to talking about the Dream Weaver himself, the Sandman. We are going to eat the entire thing. Watch us gorge on the first collected edition, Preludes and Nocturnes. Can we hold it down? Find out! “She’s realized the real problem with stories -- if you keep them going long enough, they always end in death.”

Neil Gaiman - The Sandman #1-8

July 20, 2022 00:17 - 1 hour - 39.4 MB

Chris, James, and James finally press the button. They finally take the plunge. They finally begin that long, dark journey into night. Tonight we finally get down to talking about the Dream Weaver himself, the Sandman. We are going to eat the entire thing. Watch us gorge on the first collected edition, Preludes and Nocturnes. Can we hold it down? Find out! “She’s realized the real problem with stories -- if you keep them going long enough, they always end in death.”

Percy Bysshe Shelley and The Invisibles

July 16, 2022 13:51 - 45 minutes - 43.4 MB

Poetry corner! James has been thinking some more about the way that 19C English poet Percy Bysshe Shelley is depicted and used in Grant Morrison's The Invisibles. Bereft of other, more exciting content, he presents to you now a half-baked rendition of his conclusions. "Many a green isle needs must be In the deep wide sea of Misery"

The Invisibles and Percy Bysshe Shelley

July 16, 2022 13:51 - 45 minutes - 43.4 MB

Poetry corner! James has been thinking some more about the way that 19C English poet Percy Bysshe Shelley is depicted and used in Grant Morrison's The Invisibles. Bereft of other, more exciting content, he presents to you now a half-baked rendition of his conclusions. "Many a green isle needs must be In the deep wide sea of Misery"

Doug Moench - Slash Maraud

July 09, 2022 12:59 - 1 hour - 25.7 MB

Post hoc ergo propter hoc. The podcast that literally broke the Canadian internet! Doug Moench and Paul Gulacy deliver a fine soup of pop violence and exploitation. Chris and James weather the storm as best one can. "Woman that rocket of yours -- 'cause fun-time's gon' be launched early today."

Universal Soldier (1992)

July 02, 2022 20:37 - 45 minutes - 19 MB

Adam pops 'round for a small chat about a wee movie by the name of Universal Soldier. What we lack in preparation and synergy we more than make up for in enjoyment. So enjoy us! If you can... "They're eight seconds behind schedule."

Barry Windsor-Smith - Monsters

June 23, 2022 10:00 - 1 hour - 27.5 MB

Chris, James, and James descend right down into the heart of misery itself. Do you trust the government? Should you? Should you when you know that we brought those Nazi scientists over and authorized them to perform secret experiments on the poor ruined body of an abuse victim? When we KNOW that that evil seeps everyday into our homes and into our bodies, destroying love? This isn't just any funny book ladies and gentlemen. This is the funniest book. "Please Tom, not now--I'm busy having...

Tadao Tsuge - Trash Market

June 16, 2022 01:25 - 1 hour - 59.3 MB

Who are these down-and-out characters? What do their disappearances mean? Their abused childhoods? What nihilism drives them to violence? To self destruction? To eating their own flesh? Tadao Tsuge answers all such questions. Chris and James just need to visit with Drawn and Quarterly's edition of Trash Market. "The steam engine, in the end, was just a steam engine."

Garth Ennis - Batman: Reptilian

June 09, 2022 10:00 - 1 hour - 31.3 MB

Nothing better than a themed episode, is there? Not for us there isn't! Our minds are oiled up. Our thoughts tighter than a young Jane Fonda's ass. You want to know about Killer Croc, greatest Batman villain of them all? Well, look no further than this fine podcast my friend. Sit down. Let James and James tell you the tale... "So how do you like my sense of humor?"

Doctor Strange (1975-2007)

June 04, 2022 16:52 - 1 hour - 35.8 MB

By the Hoary Hosts of Hoggoth and the slithering spirits of the Vishanti, it's a Doctor Strange themed episode of the Xtinction Agenda! Watch Brian K. Vaughan slip on a banana peel in Doctor Strange: The Oath. Then thrill(!) at the unholy union of speed and LSD that is Steve Englehart's and Gene Colan's mid-70s stint on Doctor Strange, Master of the Mystic Arts. "Don't you ever get wise?"

American Werewolf in London / Ginger Snaps

May 26, 2022 21:16 - 1 hour - 43.1 MB

Chris, James, and James plumb the depths of human sexuality. 'Nuff said.

George Perez - The Incredible Hulk: Future Imperfect

May 19, 2022 10:00 - 40 minutes - 17.3 MB

Oh George, we knew yee. We knew yee to be the greatest of the 1970s/1980s team superhero comic book artists. Yee who were worthy of illustrating such luminaries as Thor and Captain America, such villains as Deathstroke and Brainiac, such clowns as Beast Boy (and Beast), such vixens as Starfire and Wonder Woman. We knew yee. Tonight, James and James honour the passing of George Perez with a look at his 1992 collaboration with Peter David on The Incredible Hulk: Future Imperfect. "This had...

Peter David - The Incredible Hulk: Future Imperfect

May 19, 2022 10:00 - 40 minutes - 17.3 MB

Oh George, we knew yee. We knew yee to be the greatest of the 1970s/1980s team superhero comic book artists. Yee who were worthy of illustrating such luminaries as Thor and Captain America, such villains as Deathstroke and Brainiac, such clowns as Beast Boy (and Beast), such vixens as Starfire and Wonder Woman. We knew yee. Tonight, James and James honour the passing of George Perez with a look at his 1992 collaboration with Peter David on The Incredible Hulk: Future Imperfect. "This had...

Tom King - Vision Vol. 2 #1-12

May 12, 2022 10:00 - 56 minutes - 34.5 MB

James wanted to tell James that Tom King is worth a look, even if he done went and turned trash nowadays. Towards this end, he convinced his colleague to jump into some Vision comics. Both of them got a lot more than they had expected! "So first, I pray that there is a God."

Junji Ito - No Longer Human

May 05, 2022 10:00 - 1 hour - 39.8 MB

Chris and James have lived a life of great shame. Eating dinner disgusted them. The burden of respect hung heavy on their shoulders. And the Great Father that is Nation held them down like a perverted man servant. But now, although disqualified from humanity itself, they have vomited their misfortunes into a psychedelic hell. Today: Junji Ito's manga adaptation of Osamu Dazai's No Longer Human. "This, I was to learn in later years, was a kind of demonical prophecy."

Heathers (1989)

April 28, 2022 10:00 - 1 hour - 28.4 MB

Chris, James, and James visit Westerburg High School and see what the Heathers are up to. Their cruelties are a pleasure to behold. Like dropping in on teenage Cenobites. Open the box. Come inside. "Chaos is what killed the dinosaurs, darling."

Brian Michael Bendis - Avengers: Disassembled

April 26, 2022 00:32 - 57 minutes - 24.6 MB

Well, you can't make an omelette without breaking some eggs, can you? James and James explore this notion through the opening gambit of Brian Michael Bendis' and David Finch's first attempt at an Avengers story back in the heyday of 2004. Back when there was no love and no meaning and nothing meant anything. Back when Bendis was king. "You have a thing for her?" "I really do"

Morbius: The Living Vampire

April 21, 2022 10:00 - 1 hour - 39.3 MB

James and James slake their eldritch thirst with some Morbius: The Living Vampire comics. But first, before they can do that, it's important that they talk about Spider-Man movies as well. Just for a little bit. It helps to warm the blood and get us ready for the utterly negligent and poorly constructed Morbius comics series of 2013. We genuinely hope that someone got fired for this. "I--I don't know what I'm supposed to do here."

Geoff Johns - Blackest Night #1-8 (2009-2010)

April 14, 2022 10:00 - 1 hour - 29.5 MB

Chris, James, and James utterly savage this week's subject matter. Geoff Johns and Ivan Reis and all these CRIMINALS need to be thrown in the slammer with Hellary Klinton and Racist Grandpa. If we had paid for this comic we would have burned all comics shops down to the ground. But we didn't pay for this comic. Not in any material sense anyway. Only in the spiritual sense. In the sense that only makes sense when one blunders into Blackest Night. "Why do we need to put their remains in a va...

Larry Hama - Wolverine Vol. 2 #31-34

April 09, 2022 00:31 - 41 minutes - 25.5 MB

James and James return to the topic of the Ole Canucklehead. Larry Hama wrote a good chunk of these Wolverine comics when we were but wee lads. We go back to see what that might have done to our undeveloped minds. Marc Silvestri does not disappoint. "We are beyond fear, beyond hope and beyond pain..."

Larry Hama - G.I. Joe Vol. 1 #26-27

April 06, 2022 15:04 - 34 minutes - 21.2 MB

GO JOE! James and James learn the origin stories of Snake Eyes and Storm Shadow, two of G.I. Joe's most interesting and mysterious characters. Larry Hama put a lot of love into this toy commercial franchise. We appreciate that. We really do. "I happen to like empty pistols. I'll buy it from you for fifty dollars."

Fist of the North Star

April 01, 2022 00:22 - 57 minutes - 24.2 MB

Chris, James, and James enjoy some fine literature and some fine animated cinema. Before the Fist of the North Star was a movie, it was a manga. Viz Media started putting out some nice hardcover collected editions of the original series so we thought we'd dip into this mega franchise, see what's up. We were not disappointed. "It's all mine. And your woman, too."

Tom DeFalco - Fantastic Four Vol. 1 #301 (1987)

March 25, 2022 16:22 - 19 minutes - 7.95 MB

Because life sometimes gets in the way, James and James gotta take one out of the crypt this week. Listen as we trot out an old, previously unreleased examination of Tom DeFalco's earliest work on the Fantastic Four. Hard to believe that Marvel Comics would degenerate into a pile of garbage under his stewardship. "Did I only imagine that I heard my son's voice, or...?"

David Fincher - Se7en and Fight Club

March 20, 2022 21:58 - 1 hour - 42.8 MB

Chris, James, and James come in a little late this week. They had some technical difficulties and scheduling conflicts. However, this week we have a blockbuster for you. Introducing the newest member of our podcasting family: David Fincher! David sits down with us this week to discuss Se7en (1995) and Fight Club (1999), two movies you may never have heard of. Trust us though, they are definitely worth of a look-see. "Anyone who spends a significant amount of time with me finds me disagre...

Mark Millar - Nemesis, Superior, and Starlight

March 10, 2022 11:00 - 1 hour - 31.7 MB

Chris, James, and James make an concerted effort to get some sort of critical purchase on third-wave British invasion writer Mark Millar. To this end, they tackle three works from this Scottish writer's middle period: Nemesis w/Steve McNiven (2010), Superior w/Leinil Francis Yu (2010-2012), and Starlight w/Goran Parlov (2014). What's the magic sauce that makes all this stuff work? Find out. "Are you the lady from the news?"

Mark Millar - A Conversation

March 10, 2022 11:00 - 1 hour - 31.7 MB

Chris, James, and James make an concerted effort to get some sort of critical purchase on third-wave British invasion writer Mark Millar. To this end, they tackle three works from this Scottish writer's middle period: Nemesis w/Steve McNiven (2010), Superior w/Leinil Francis Yu (2010-2012), and Starlight w/Goran Parlov (2014). What's the magic sauce that makes all this stuff work? Find out. "Are you the lady from the news?"

Scott Snyder - Batman: Zero Year - Dark City

March 04, 2022 23:54 - 54 minutes - 33.1 MB

James and James continue to take a bite out of crime, following the adventures of Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo's Batman run. This time we get ourselves a high-powered Riddler. Many discourses are discoursed. "Dunk tank for you all."

David Lynch - Mulholland Drive (2001)

March 01, 2022 12:34 - 1 hour - 43.8 MB

Chris and James take stock of the recent Ukrainian invasion before jumping head first into a fresh pool of David Lynch. *splish* This week we are talking Mulholland Drive. All of Hollywood is corrupt. All of Hollywood is a dream. "There's a man... in back of this place. He's the one who's doing it. I can see him through the wall."

Rifts - Role-Playing Game (1990)

February 25, 2022 23:07 - 56 minutes - 34.5 MB

Here's something a little different. James and James talk about a little-known role-playing game by the name of Rifts. The brain child of Kevin Siembieda (a name we fail to pronounce), Rifts was a big game for us growing up. It was a wholesome and innocent game with absolutely nothing problematic about it.

Scott Snyder - Batman: Zero Year - Secret City

February 19, 2022 01:50 - 48 minutes - 20.2 MB

After about eight minutes of talking events North of the boarder, telling the Ottawa Occupational force to f#$* itself, James and James return to Scott Snyder's and Greg Capullo's Batman run. Did Batman need his origin story told again? Hopefully Chip Zdarsky isn't around to hear the answer...

Scott Snyder - Batman: Zero Year Part One

February 19, 2022 01:50 - 48 minutes - 20.2 MB

After about eight minutes of talking events North of the boarder, telling the Ottawa Occupational force to f#$* itself, James and James return to Scott Snyder's and Greg Capullo's Batman run. Did Batman need his origin story told again? Hopefully Chip Zdarsky isn't around to hear the answer...

The Tournament of Hearts

February 14, 2022 10:00 - 1 hour - 54.1 MB

Chris, James, and James take you on a Valentine's Day journey through the mire of bad girl comics of the 70s and 90s. Lady Death vs. Witchblade. Frank Thorne's Red Sonja vs. Warren Magazine era Vampirella. Jim Balent's incomparable Tarot: Witch of the Black Rose vs. Milo Manara's sultry X-Women. No matter who wins, one thing is certain: there won't be a dry seat in the house!

Takashi Miike - Blade of the Immortal (2017)

February 10, 2022 22:44 - 53 minutes - 22.8 MB

Chris, James, and James do yet another comic book movie. But this time with a twist! It's time to discuss Takashi Miike's film adaptation of the world-renowned manga, Blade of the Immortal! "Sometimes just remembering it gives you incredible power."

Scott Snyder - Batman: Death of the Family

February 03, 2022 11:00 - 57 minutes - 35.6 MB

James and James enter into the GrimDark world of Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo's Batman run. Flaming horses and living flesh statues abound! "Ta-daa!"

Grant Morrison - The Invisibles Vol. 3 #1

January 30, 2022 15:09 - 2 hours - 53.1 MB

In this episode, Chris and James fold up the board and put the game back on the shelf. It's been a long ride but we've arrived at the station. The fat lady is belting it out. Thank you all to those who did this with us. You contributed nothing but gave us everything. "IS AllNOW LOVE"

Greg Rucka - Batman: No Man's Land

January 27, 2022 22:06 - 1 hour - 32.1 MB

Chris, James, and James check out Greg Rucka's contributions to the 1999 Batman mega-event No Man's Land. It goes pretty well over all. Not a bad time. "Congratulations. That's his highest praise. Honest."

Taken 3 (2014)

January 20, 2022 11:00 - 54 minutes - 23.1 MB

Adam, James, and James finish with this franchise in style. Shlub Dad enters a parallel universe where up is down, left is right, the boys in blue are remarkably tenacious, and not a single person is actually taken. "Sounds like spy shit to me."

Becky Cloonan - The Punisher Vol. 10 #1-6

January 19, 2022 01:42 - 26 minutes - 16 MB

James and James kinda sell Steve Dillon short by not putting his name front and centre in the title of this episode. But sometimes that's just what life is: one bitter betrayal of memory after another. Rest in peace Steve. You did the good work. "...a Punisher was born."

James Gunn - Suicide Squad (2021)

January 13, 2022 11:00 - 1 hour - 50.2 MB

Chris, James, and James return to Taskforce X. First with issues #11-16 of Ostrander's and McDonnell's acclaimed run and then, as the main event, James Gunn's cartoonish take on the Suicide Squad franchise. "This isn't going to work."

Grant Morrison - The Invisibles Vol. 3 #4-2

January 05, 2022 20:42 - 2 hours - 52.5 MB

Chris and James just want to feel guilty about the murder of two women. Their ego scaffolding needs to be husked. The archon will manifest itself as the annihilation of all opposites. Join us, won't you, for the penultimate installment of our little danse macabre? "Time for the Queen Archon to make her appearance."

The War Journal - Chuck Dixon's Punisher

December 31, 2021 02:41 - 2 minutes - 4.94 MB

Tune in to The War Journal - Chuck Dixon's Punisher. Find it. Do not give up. Hot new podcast.

Episodes